New report calls for a restoration of books to the centre of Canadian education

October 29, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALGARY — A new study released today by the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy examines the shifting role of books and school libraries in Canada—calling for schools to renew book culture, by returning to knowledge-rich curricula supported by robust library collections.

School Libraries in Crisis: Rebuilding book culture for Canadian children, by Dr. Paul W. Bennett, traces the shift from libraries centred on books and facilitating reading and cultural literacy to “learning commons” focused on collaborative spaces, technology, and digital access to resources. Bennett argues that revitalizing school libraries requires restoring books to the centre of K–9 education and proposes a model combining timeless classics with significant Canadian works, ensuring both intellectual rigour and cultural relevance.

Key Findings

• The shift from book-centred libraries to learning commons, in addition to the disappearance of teacher-librarians, has contributed to a generation increasingly detached from whole books and cultural literacy.

• Compounding this decline are aggressive equity-based weeding policies and “culture war” conflicts over book selection.

• Research in cognitive science and education finds reading whole books is essential for developing comprehension, background knowledge, and critical thinking.

• The report recommends age-appropriate reading lists and book collections that combine enduring literary classics with significant Canadian works, supported by trained teacher-librarians and curriculum-aligned collection development.

“We have a growing generation of students with less exposure to whole books, sustained reading, and the cultural literacy essential to full democratic citizenship and deeper understanding of our cultural traditions,” notes Bennett. “We must restore libraries as cultural sanctuaries—places where students encounter challenging ideas, develop reading stamina, and build the shared knowledge needed to become informed citizens in a democratic society.”

The full report, School Libraries in Crisis: Rebuilding book culture for Canadian children, is available at aristotlefoundation.org.

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